Apparatus and methods for separating particulates from a particulate suspension in wastewater processing and cleaning

A cyclone aerator, comprising:

• a jacket tube, said jacket tube defining an interior space;
• a top cover removably attached to said jacket tube, said top cover including a plurality of top flanges;
• a bottom cover removably attached to said jacket tube, said bottom cover including a plurality of bottom flanges, said plurality of bottom flanges correspondingly aligned with said plurality of top flanges;
• a plurality of removable plates oriented within said interior space of said jacket tube, each of said plurality of plates in orientation with at least one of said plurality of top flanges and at least one of said correspondingly aligned bottom flanges;
• a gas inlet in communication with said jacket tube whereby a gas may be introduced into at least a portion of said interior space of said jacket tube;
• a fluidized suspension feed inlet in communication with said jacket tube including means to create a swirling flow pattern in said fluidized suspension whereby said fluidized suspension may be introduced into at least a portion of said interior space of said jacket tube;
• and
• a discharge outlet in communication with said jacket tube whereby said gas and said fluidized suspension may be purged from at least a portion of said interior space of said jacket tube.

A cyclone aerator, comprising:

• a substantially longitudinally oriented jacketing tube, said jacketing tube having a first open end and a second open end at opposing ends of said jacketing tube;
• a top removably connected to said first open end of said jacketing tube, said top including top flanges;
• a bottom removably connected to said second open end of said jacketing tube, said bottom including bottom flanges, wherein said bottom flanges are substantially aligned with said top flanges;
• a plurality of plates, said plurality of plates longitudinally disposed within said jacketing tube, each of said plurality of plates substantially rectangular in shape having an internal edge and an external edge, each of said plurality of plates extending in a non-radial manner from said internal edge disposed proximate a longitudinal centerline of said jacketing tube to said external edge disposed proximate said jacketing tube, said internal edges of said plurality of plates defining a substantially cylindrical central chamber oriented around said longitudinal centerline of said jacketing tube, said external edges of said plurality of plates and said jacketing tube defining an outer chamber;
• a feed inlet, said feed inlet proximate said top whereby a fluidized suspension may be introduced into said substantially cylindrical central chamber of said jacketing tube in a tangential fashion about said longitudinal centerline of said jacketing tube;
• a gas inlet, said gas inlet proximate a midpoint of said jacketing tube whereby a gas may be introduced into said outer chamber, said gas passing between said plurality of plates to said central chamber;
• and
• an outlet, said outlet located proximate said bottom, said outlet in communication with said central chamber whereby said fluidized suspension and said gas exit said central chamber.